Fencing-machine.



No. 875,559. PATENI'BD DEC. 31, 1907,

w. B. SORRELLS. v FENCING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2%1906.

WILLIAM B. SORRELLS, OF ROCKMART, GEORGIA.

FENCING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1907.

Application filed November 24, 1906. Serial No. 3%,931.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM B. SORRELLS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rockmart, in the county of Polk and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fencing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fencing machines and embodies a vertical frame having a drum adjustably sustained thereon and connected for operating a rope or cable which, in turn, operates a boring or driving tool.

The invention has for its objects to provide a simple, inexpensive device of this character which may be utilized in the operations of preparing the post holes, driving the posts and stretching the wires, one wherein the hoisting drum may be conveniently released for permitting the descending stroke of the tool, and one in which the height of the drum may be conveniently adjusted in the operation of stretching the wires and to accord with the height of the latter.

WVith these and other objects, the invention comprises the novel features of construc tion and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying the invention and showing the same equipped with a post driving hammer. Fig. 2 is a detail view partly in section and showing the manner of connecting the crank with the drum shaft. Fig. 3 is a detail view in elevation, showing the manner of connecting the traveler blocks with the rails.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the machine, which is portable, comprises a base frame 1 on which is erected a pair of vertical posts or standards 2 connected at their upper ends by means of a cross-piece or cap piece 3 hinged at one end to the adjacent post 2 and detachably engaged at its other end with the other post by 'means of a hasp 1 formed to seat over a staple or other suitable keeper 5, there being mounted on the cross-bar 3, a Ushaped bearing member 6 in which is journaled a grooved guide-pulley 7.

Connected at their lower ends with the base frame 1 and at their upper ends respectively, with the standards 2, is a pair of diagonally inclined bracing members or rails 8 having formed in their inner faces longitudinal grooves or channels 9, there being slidably disposed on the rails 8 suitable traveler blocks or heads 10 formed with longitudinal projecting portions or tongues 11 to seat in the grooves and for guiding the blocks 10 in their movements on the rails to which the blocks are connected by means of straps or bands 12 disposed adjacent the ends of the blocks which are held in adjusted positions by means of set screws 13 threaded through the bands and to bear on the faces of the rails 8 for a purpose which will presently appear.

Journaled in bearings 14, provided on the blocks 10, is a drum shaft 15 on which is fixed a drum 16 of a length to extend between the rails 8 and having end heads 17, there being connected with and to be wound on the drum 16, which is provided at a point between its ends with a hook 18, a flexible operating rope or cable 19 arranged for travel between its ends over the pulley 7, while engaged with the free end of the rope is a part20 shown herein as being in the form of a post-driving weight.

Fulcrumed in a bearing clip 21 fixed on one of the blocks 10 is a tripping lever 22 terminating at its lower end in a bifurcated head 23 adapted to straddle a clutch member 24 slidably mounted on the shaft 15 and fixed for rotation therewith through the medium of a spline or feather 25, there being formed in a clutch member 24 a peripheral groove 26 in which the terminals of the fork 23 are seated, while .idly mounted on the shaft 15 at the outer side of the member 24,is a second clutch member 27 formed integrally with an operating crank 28 and secured against longitudinal movement on the. shaft by means of a set screw 29 seated at its inner end'in a groove 30 formed peripherally around the shaft.

Fixed in the shaft 15 at a point between the clutch member 2 1 and adjacent bar 8 is a collar 31 which together with a similar collar fixed on the right hand end of the shaft holds the latter against longitudinal movement in the bearings, while the standard 2 and rail 8, at the left hand side of the machine, are pivoted at their lower ends byhinges 32 to the base 1, whereby they may, when disengaged at their upper ends from the cross piece 3, be turned downward to ahorizontal position for a purpose which will presently appear.

In practice and in the operation of the machine, the crank 28 is grasped and manipulated for turning the shaft 15 in the proper direction to wind the cable 19, thus lifting the weight 20, employed in the operation of driving fence posts. After the weight has been raised to the desired height, the upper end of the lever 22 is swung outward as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, thereby moving the clutch member 24 out of engagement with the companion member 27 to release the shaft 15 and permit free rotation of the drum 16, whereupon the cable 19 will unwind freely and the Weight descend upon the upper end of and for driving the post. It is to be understood in this connection that in the operation of forming the postholes, a drill will be substituted for the weight 20 and for operation by the cable 19. After the posts have been erected, the line wires may, in the instance of wire fences, be engaged with the hook 18 and the drum operated for stretching the Wires during which operation, the hasp 4 will be disengaged from the keeper 5 to permit of the cross-piece 3 being swung over to an unobstructing position, and the left hand standard 2 and rail 8 turned clownward to a horizontal position for arranging the machine in place relative to or astride the fence. Also in the operation of stretching the wires, the traveler blocks 10 may, by loosening the screws 13 sufliciently for sliding the blocks and their connecting bands 12 along the rails 8, be raised or lowered on the latter to accord with the height of the wires from the ground, or the screws may be manipulated for loosening the bands sufliciently to permit of the blocks 10 being disengaged therefrom, whereupon the blocks and drum may be entirely removed from the frame.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. In a machine of the class described, a frame composed of a base, side members each comprising a post or upright and an inclined brace or rail the post and rail constituting one of said side members being hingedly connectedat their lower ends with the base, and a cap piece detachably connected with the upper extremity of the hingedly supported side member, bearing blocks supported slidably and adjustably upon theinclined rails or braces, a drum carrying shaft journaled upon the bearing blocks, means including a 'clutch for rotating the shaft and means for tripping the clutch.

2. In a machine of the class described, a frame including a base, posts or uprights supported upon the base and inclined rails or braces connecting the upper ends of the posts with the base and provided with grooves or cut away portions at'the upper inner corners, and a cap connecting the upper ends of the posts, a guide member supported upon the cap, bearing blockssupported slidably upon theinclined rails or braces-and having tongues engaging the grooves or cutaway portions of the'latter, bands connecting the bearing blocks with the rails and having set screws engaging the bearing blocks, a drum carrying shaft j ournaled in the bearing blocks, means including a clutch for rotating the drum carrying shaft, means for tripping the clutch, a flexible element connected with the drum and guided over the guide member of the cap piece of the frame, and a tool carried by said flexible element.

In testimony whereof, I affiX mysignature in presence oftwo witnesses.

WILLIAM B.-SORRELLS.

Witnesses:

JOHN SIMPSON, A. H. GRAEFER.

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